Biological sample measuring apparatus

ABSTRACT

The present invention includes a body case having a biological sample sensor mounting portion on one end side, a temperature sensor (A) provided on the one end side inside the body case, a measurement portion connected to the biological sample sensor mounting portion, and a control portion connected to the measurement portion. A temperature sensor (B) is provided on one other end side inside the body case, and when measurement is performed by the measurement portion, temperature change amounts in the two end portions are compared using the temperature sensors (A) and (B). Furthermore, a measurement value obtained by the measurement portion is corrected using temperature information from either one of the temperature sensors (A) or (B) that is provided in the end portion on the side where the temperature change is smaller.

PRIORITY

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §120 and 35 U.S.C. §365to International Application PCT/JP2012/006762, with an internationalfiling date of Oct. 23, 2012, which claims priority to Japanese PatentApplication No. 2011-239996 filed on Jan. 11, 2011 and Japanese PatentApplication No. 2011-239997 filed on Jan. 11, 2011. The entiredisclosures of International Application PCT/JP2012/006762, JapanesePatent Application No. 2011-239996, and Japanese Patent Application No.2011-239997 are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a biological sample measuring apparatusthat measures biological sample information such as a blood glucoselevel or a lactic acid level from a biological sample.

BACKGROUND

Conventional biological sample measuring apparatuses have beenconfigured so as to have a body case having a biological sample sensormounting portion on one end side, a temperature sensor provided on theone end side inside the body case, a measurement portion connected tothe biological sample sensor mounting portion, and a control portionconnected to the measurement portion.

Specifically, a blood glucose level sensor, which is one example of abiological sample sensor, is mounted to the biological sample mountingportion, and the measurement value obtained by the measurement portionis corrected based on a detection temperature (temperature information)detected by the temperature sensor so as to obtain a measured bloodglucose level (e.g., see Patent Literature 1: WO 2005/000114).

One issue in the above conventional example is that measurement erroroccurs.

Specifically, conventional biological sample measuring apparatuses arewidely utilized in hospitals, for example, and measurement is carriedout on multiple patients consecutively.

In such a situation, one biological sample measuring apparatus is usedby multiple users (nurses or the like), and whereas some people may gripone end side of the body case during use, other people may grip theother end side of the body case during use.

Here, if measurement is carried out multiple times consecutively whilegripping one end side of the body case, for example, there are caseswhere heat from the gripping hand will gradually be transmitted to theinterior of the body case and influence the detection temperature(temperature information) detected by the temperature sensor providedinside the body case.

Thus, there has been the danger of a large measurement error occurringif the temperature correction of the measurement value described aboveis performed using a temperature influenced in this way.

SUMMARY

The present invention includes a body case having a biological samplesensor mounting portion on one end side, a first temperature sensorprovided on the one end side inside the body case, a measurement portionconnected to the biological sample sensor mounting portion, and acontrol portion connected to the measurement portion. A secondtemperature sensor is provided on one other end side inside the bodycase, and when biological sample information measurement is performed inthe measurement portion, temperature change amounts in two end portionsof the body case are compared using the first and second temperaturesensors. A biological sample information measurement value in themeasurement portion is corrected using temperature information fromeither one of the first or second temperature sensors that is providedin either one of the two end portions where temperature change issmaller.

According to the present invention, a biological sample informationmeasurement value in the measurement portion is corrected usingtemperature information from either one of the first and secondtemperature sensors that is provided in the end portion wheretemperature change is smaller, and therefore it is possible to suppressmeasurement error.

As a result, with the present invention, the measurement value can becorrected using temperature information that was much less influenced byheat from the user's hand, thus making it possible to suppressmeasurement error.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a biological sample measuring apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a biological sample measuringapparatus.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a biological sample measuring apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a control block diagram of a biological sample measuringapparatus.

FIG. 5 is a control flowchart of a biological sample measuringapparatus.

FIG. 6 is a control flowchart of a biological sample measuringapparatus.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing internal temperature change during use of abiological sample measuring apparatus.

FIG. 8 is a control flowchart of a biological sample measuringapparatus.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a biological sample measuringapparatus.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing internal temperature change during use of abiological sample measuring apparatus.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing internal temperature change during use of abiological sample measuring apparatus.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing internal temperature change during use of abiological sample measuring apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Selected embodiments will now be explained with reference to thedrawings. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art from thisdisclosure that the following descriptions of the embodiments areprovided for illustration only and not for the purpose of limiting theinvention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

First Embodiment

A biological sample measuring apparatus according to a first embodimentof the present invention will be described below with reference to thedrawings, taking the example of a biological sample measuring apparatusfor measuring a blood glucose level in a hospital, for example.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a biological sample sensor mounting portion 3for mounting a blood glucose level sensor 2, which is one example of abiological information measurement sensor, is provided on one end sideof a substantially rectangular body case 1. Also, a sensor dischargelever 4 is arranged on the surface of the one end side of the body case1, an operation portion 5 is arranged in the central portion, and adisplay portion 6 is arranged on the other end side. Furthermore, alaser-type barcode reader 7 for scanning various types of IDs (e.g., auser ID, a patient ID, and the ID of the blood glucose level sensor 2)is provided on the other end side of the body case 1.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the body case 1. A control board 8is stored inside the body case 1, in a portion corresponding to thedisplay portion 6 and the operation portion 5. Furthermore, ameasurement board 9 is stored inside the body case 1, in a portioncorresponding to the sensor discharge lever 4 and the biological samplesensor mounting portion 3.

The control board 8 mainly comprises a control portion 10 shown in FIG.4, and the operation portion 5, the display portion 6, the barcodereader 7, a battery cell 11, and a power switch 12 are connected to thecontrol portion 10. Furthermore, a temperature calculation portion 14 isconnected to the control portion 10 via a storage portion 13, and atemperature sensor A and a temperature sensor B are connected to thetemperature calculation portion 14. Note that the temperaturecalculation portion 14 is also directly connected to the control portion10.

Meanwhile, the measurement board 9 in FIG. 2 mainly comprises themeasurement portion 15, and as shown in FIG. 4, the biological samplesensor mounting portion 3 is electrically connected to the measurementportion 15. Also, the measurement portion 15 and the control portion 10are electrically connected.

When the user switches on the power switch 12, the temperaturecalculation portion 14 starts detecting the current temperature insidethe body case 1 using the temperature sensor A and the temperaturesensor B in order to estimate the environmental temperature outside thebody case 1 (step S1 in FIG. 5). The detection of the currenttemperature will be described in detail later.

Next, the user scans various types of IDs such as a user ID, a patientID, and the ID of the blood glucose level sensor 2 using the barcodereader 7 (step S2 in FIG. 5). Thereafter, the user connects a connectionterminal (not shown) provided on the other end side of the blood glucoselevel sensor 2 to the biological sample sensor mounting portion 3 asshown in FIG. 1. In this state, blood is deposited on a deposit portion16 in FIG. 1 that is provided on the one end side of the blood glucoselevel sensor 2 (step S3 in FIG. 5).

Thereafter, the control portion 10 in FIG. 4 acquires the aforementionedcurrent temperature that was detected by the temperature calculationportion 14 (step S4 in FIG. 5). Next, the measurement portion 15measures the blood glucose level (step S5 in FIG. 5), and the controlportion 10 corrects the blood glucose level based on the currenttemperature (step S6 in FIG. 5).

As is well-known, the reaction in the blood glucose level sensor 2varies greatly depending on the temperature at this time, and thereforethe blood glucose level is corrected based on the current temperature.For this reason, it is important to detect an accurate currenttemperature.

The corrected result is then displayed on the display portion 6 (step S7in FIG. 5).

Note that a protective film 17 for scratch prevention is provided on thesurface of the display portion 6 as shown in FIG. 1.

A characteristic point of the present embodiment is that the temperaturesensor A is provided on the one end side inside the substantiallyrectangular body case 1, and the temperature sensor B is provided on theother end side as shown in FIG. 2.

Specifically, the biological sample measuring apparatus of the presentembodiment will be widely utilized in hospitals, for example, and asingle biological sample measuring apparatus will be used by multipleusers (nurses or the like) in such places as hospitals. In this usagesituation, some people will grip the one end side of the body case 1during use as shown in FIG. 1, and other people will grip the other endside of the body case 1 during use as shown in FIG. 3. Measurement willbe carried out on multiple patients consecutively in this state.Accordingly, heat from the user's hand will be transmitted to theinterior of the end portion on the gripped side of the body case 1, andthe detection temperature (temperature information) at that end portionwill change greatly.

In view of this, the measurement value obtained by the measurementportion 15 is corrected using the temperature information from eitherone of the temperature sensor A or the temperature sensor B that isprovided in the end portion on the side opposite to the end portioncorresponding to temperature information having a larger temperaturechange amount, that is to say, the one that is provided in the endportion where the temperature change is smaller.

As a result, the measurement value can be corrected using temperatureinformation that was much less influenced by heat from the user's hand,thus making it possible to suppress measurement error.

Note that as shown in FIG. 2, the temperature sensor A and thetemperature sensor B are provided in the vicinity of the outer wall atthe respective end portions of the body case 1. For this reason, thetemperature sensor A and the temperature sensor B similarly followchanges in the outside environmental temperature such that temperaturedifferences do not occur in the detection temperatures obtained by thetwo temperature sensors.

The following describes operations of the temperature sensor A and thetemperature sensor B taking the example of the case where the user gripsthe one end side of the body case 1, that is to say the temperaturesensor A side, during use as shown in FIG. 1, with reference to FIGS. 4and 6.

First, when the user switches on the power switch 12, the controlportion 10 starts to detect the temperature inside the body case 1 usingthe temperature calculation portion 14 (step S11 in FIG. 6). Thetemperature calculation portion 14 detects a temperature “a” inside theone end side of the body case 1 and a temperature “b” inside the otherend side of the body case 1 using the temperature sensor A and thetemperature sensor B (step S12 in FIG. 6).

Here, depending on the relationship between the user's body temperatureand the usage environmental temperature, there are cases where theuser's hand is a heat generator and cases where the user's hand is aheat absorber that lowers the internal temperature of the body case 1.Which it acts as is determined by the ambient temperature (outside airtemperature) around the body case 1. This point will be described belowwith reference to FIG. 7.

FIG. 7 shows the relationship that a detection temperature Ca from thetemperature sensor A and a detection temperature Cb from the temperaturesensor B have with a grip time N1, which is the length of time that theuser grips the body case 1.

First, the case where the user's hand acts as a pseudo heat generatorwill be described.

A region R1 at the bottom of FIG. 7 shows the relationship between thedetection temperature Ca (temperature sensor A) and the detectiontemperature Cb (temperature sensor B) when the ambient temperature islow (e.g., 16° C.). Specifically, this region shows the relationshipwhen the ambient temperature was 16° C., the user gripped the one endside with a hand temperature of 34° C., and measurement was carried outmultiple times consecutively.

At this low temperature, the temperature of the user's hand is higherthan the ambient temperature, and therefore heat from the user's handraises the internal temperature of the body case 1. In other words, theuser's hand is a pseudo heat generator.

Accordingly, as shown in the region R1 in FIG. 7, the longer the griptime N1 is, the more heat from the hand is transmitted into the one endside of the body case 1, and the more the detection temperature Ca fromthe temperature sensor A changes so as to rise. On the other hand, thedetection temperature Cb from the temperature sensor B provided on theother end side is in a substantially constant state due to not beinginfluenced by heat from the hand.

Next, the case where the user's hand acts as a pseudo heat absorber willbe described.

A region R2 at the top of FIG. 7 shows the relationship between thedetection temperature Ca (temperature sensor A) and the detectiontemperature Cb (temperature sensor B) when the ambient temperature ishigh (e.g., 40° C.). Specifically, this region shows the relationshipwhen the ambient temperature was 40° C., the user gripped the one endside with a hand temperature of 32° C., and measurement was carried outmultiple times consecutively.

At this high temperature, the temperature of the user's hand is lowerthan the ambient temperature, and therefore the user's hand steals heatfrom the body case 1 so as to lower the internal temperature. In otherwords, the user's hand is a pseudo heat absorber.

Accordingly, as shown in the region R2 in FIG. 7, the longer the griptime N1 is, the more heat inside the body case 1 is absorbed by theuser's hand, and the more the detection temperature Ca from thetemperature sensor A on the one end side changes so as to decrease,whereas the detection temperature Cb from the temperature sensor B onthe other end side is in a substantially constant state due to not beinginfluenced by heat from the hand.

In this way, both when the user's hand is a pseudo heat generator andwhen it is a pseudo heat absorber, the temperature obtained by thetemperature sensor provided on the one end side gripped by the user (thetemperature sensor A in this case) changes greatly.

In view of this, the temperature calculation portion 14 does not use thetemperature information from the temperature sensor A on the one endside where the temperature change is large (temperature “a”), andrecords the temperature sensor B provided in the end portion on theopposite side as the sensor to be used in a to-be-used sensordetermination result area 18 in the storage portion 13.

The temperature information from the temperature sensor B (temperature“b”) is then recorded as the current temperature in a currenttemperature area 19 (step S13 in FIG. 6).

The control portion 10 then acquires the current temperature from thecurrent temperature area 19 and corrects the blood glucose levelobtained by the measurement portion 15 using the current temperature(step S6 in FIG. 5) as described above.

In this way, the measurement value can be corrected using thetemperature information from the temperature sensor B on the side thatwas much less influenced by heat from the user's hand, thus making itpossible to suppress measurement error.

Then, after waiting for 10 seconds (10-second wait) (step S14 in FIG.6), the procedure returns to step S12 in FIG. 6, and the measurement ofthe current temperature is started again. The processing of steps S12 toS14 in FIG. 6 is repeated until the user switches off the power switch12, and therefore the control portion 10 can always acquire the mostrecent current temperature from the current temperature area 19 of thestorage portion 13.

Note that the above description was given taking the example where theuser grips the one end side, that is to say the temperature sensor Aside, of the body case 1 during use as shown in FIG. 1. However, thereare also cases where the user grips the other end side, that is to saythe temperature sensor B side, of the body case 1 during use as shown inFIG. 3.

In this case, heat from the user's hand will be transmitted to theinterior of the end portion on the temperature sensor B side, and thedetection temperature Cb at that end portion will change greatly.

For this reason, the measurement value obtained by the measurementportion 15 is corrected using the temperature information from thetemperature sensor A provided in the end portion on the side opposite tothe temperature sensor B side where the temperature change is large.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, a partition 20 is providedbetween an accommodating portion for the temperature sensor A on the oneend side of the body case 1 and an accommodating portion for thetemperature sensor B on the other end side as shown in FIG. 2.Accordingly, heat exchange (movement of heat) between the one end sideand the other end side can be disrupted, and it is possible toeffectively suppress the influence that heat from the user's hand thatwas transmitted to one side has on the other side.

As a result, the measurement value can be corrected using temperatureinformation from either one of the temperature sensor A or thetemperature sensor B that is on the side that was much less influencedby heat from the user's hand, thus making it possible to suppressmeasurement error.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, a protruding portion 21 and aprotruding portion 22 are formed such that portions on the underside ofthe body case 1 that correspond to the temperature sensor A and thetemperature sensor B protrude downward.

The user will naturally grip the protruding portion 21 and theprotruding portion 22.

For this reason, the user will grip the periphery of the temperaturesensor A or the temperature sensor B in a natural manner, and thetemperature sensor A or the temperature sensor B can effectively senseheat from the user's hand.

Note that although the present embodiment is configured such thattemperature measurement is performed by the temperature sensors A and Bbefore the measurement of biological sample information, and theimmediately previous temperature information is utilized, aconfiguration is possible in which the temperature measurement isperformed by the temperature sensors A and B when biological sampleinformation is measured.

Second Embodiment

Differences between a biological sample measuring apparatus according toa second embodiment of the present invention and the biological samplemeasuring apparatus of the first embodiment will be described below. Asshown in FIG. 9, the biological sample measuring apparatus of thepresent embodiment has a grip portion 51 a obtained by forming recessedfinger grooves that conform to the bulging of fingers on a protrudingportion 51 on the underside portion of a body case 31. This clearlyindicates the portion that is to be gripped, and the user will naturallygrip the grip portion 51 a. In this way, with the biological samplemeasuring apparatus according to the second embodiment of the presentinvention, the portion gripped by the user is fixed on the one end side.

Furthermore, a temperature detection sensor D that detects the usageenvironmental temperature (current temperature) is provided inside thebody case 31 on the side (the other end side) opposite to the gripportion 51 a on the one end side. Also, a temperature correction sensorC for correcting the influence of heat from the user's hand is providedinside the body case 31 in correspondence with the grip portion 51 a onthe one end side.

Note that as shown in FIG. 9, the temperature correction sensor C andthe temperature detection sensor D are provided in the vicinity of theouter wall at the respective end portions of the body case 31. For thisreason, the temperature correction sensor C and the temperaturedetection sensor D similarly follow changes in the outside environmentaltemperature such that temperature differences do not occur in thedetection temperatures obtained by the two temperature sensors.

Specifically, the biological sample measuring apparatus of the presentembodiment will be widely utilized in hospitals, for example, and thegrip portion 51 a on the one end side of the body case 31 will begripped during use.

In order to make heat from the hand holding the grip portion 51 aunlikely to be transmitted to the temperature detection sensor D, thetemperature detection sensor D is arranged on the other end side of thebody case 31 as shown in FIG. 9.

However, even with this countermeasure, if nurses carry out measurementon multiple patients consecutively in a hospital, for example, heat fromthe hand gripping the grip portion 51 a will accumulate inside the gripportion 51 a. As a result of meeting demand for a reduction in the sizeof biological sample measuring apparatuses in recent years, there aresome cases where the detection temperature (temperature information)from the temperature detection sensor D provided in the end portion onthe side opposite to the grip portion 51 a is also influenced, althoughto a slight degree.

In view of this, in the present embodiment, the detection temperaturefrom the temperature detection sensor D on the other end side iscorrected using temperature information from the temperature correctionsensor C on the one end side.

Accordingly, the measurement value obtained by the measurement portion15 shown in FIG. 4 is corrected using temperature information obtainedby correcting the detection temperature from the temperature detectionsensor D provided in the end portion on the other end side where thetemperature change is small, and therefore a measurement result withvery little influence from heat from the user's hand is obtained.

As a result, it is possible to suppress measurement error.

The following describes the correction of the temperature detectionsensor D using the temperature information from the temperaturecorrection sensor C with reference to FIGS. 4 and 8.

First, when the user switches on the power switch 12, the controlportion 10 starts to detect the temperature inside the body case 1 usingthe temperature calculation portion 14 (step S21 in FIG. 8).

The temperature calculation portion 14 detects a temperature Cc insidethe one end side and a temperature Cd inside the other end side usingthe temperature correction sensor C and the temperature detection sensorD (step S22 in FIG. 8).

Here, depending on the relationship between the user's body temperatureand the usage environmental temperature, there are cases where theuser's hand is a pseudo heat generator and cases where the user's handis a pseudo heat absorber that lowers the temperature inside the bodycase 31.

Which it acts as is determined by the ambient temperature (outside airtemperature) around the body case 31. This will be described below withreference to FIG. 10.

FIG. 10 shows the relationship that the detection temperature Cc fromthe temperature correction sensor C and the detection temperature Cdfrom the temperature detection sensor D have with the grip time N1,which is the length of time that the user grips the grip portion 51 a ofthe body case 31.

First, the case where the user's hand is a pseudo heat generator will bedescribed.

A region R1 at the bottom of FIG. 10 shows the relationship between thedetection temperature Cc (temperature correction sensor C) and thedetection temperature Cd (temperature detection sensor D) when theambient temperature is low (e.g., 16° C.). Specifically, this regionshows the relationship when the ambient temperature was 16° C., the usergripped the grip portion 51 a on the one end side with a handtemperature of 34° C., and measurement was carried out multiple timesconsecutively.

At this low temperature, the temperature of the user's hand is higherthan the ambient temperature, and therefore heat from the user's handraises the internal temperature of the body case 31. In other words, theuser's hand is a pseudo heat generator.

For this reason, as shown in the region R1 in FIG. 10, the longer thegrip time N1 is due to multiple consecutive measurements, the more heatfrom the hand is transmitted into the grip portion 51 a on the one endside of the body case 31, and the more the detection temperature Cc fromthe temperature correction sensor C changes so as to rise.

On the other hand, the detection temperature Cd (temperature detectionsensor D) shown in the region R1 in FIG. 10 is thought to be constant ataround 16 degrees (outside air temperature), for example.

However, in actuality, heat from the hand gripping the grip portion 51 ais gradually transmitted to the temperature detection sensor D portion.This is because the heat from the hand is transmitted along the outerwall constituting the outer surface of the body case 31, a substrate 39on which the temperature correction sensor C is arranged inside the bodycase 31, and the like. As a result, the detection temperature Cd(temperature detection sensor D) gradually rises from 16.2 degrees to16.8 degrees as shown in FIG. 11. Note that FIG. 11 is an enlarged viewof the detection temperature Cd in the region R1 corresponding to thelow temperature in FIG. 10.

Next, the case where the user's hand is a pseudo heat absorber will bedescribed.

A region R2 at the top of FIG. 10 shows the relationship between thedetection temperature Cc (temperature correction sensor C) and thedetection temperature Cd (temperature detection sensor D) when theambient temperature is high (e.g., 40° C.).

Specifically, this region shows the relationship between the detectiontemperature Cc and the detection temperature Cd when the ambienttemperature was 40° C., the user gripped the grip portion 51 a on theone end side with a hand temperature of 32° C., and measurement wascarried out multiple times consecutively.

At this high temperature, the temperature of the user's hand is lowerthan the ambient temperature, and therefore the user's hand steals heatfrom the body case 31 so as to lower the internal temperature. In otherwords, the user's hand is a pseudo heat absorber.

For this reason, as shown in a region R2 in FIG. 10, the longer the griptime N1 is, the more heat inside the body case 31 is absorbed by theuser's hand, and the more the detection temperature Cc from thetemperature correction sensor C on the one end side changes so as todecrease.

At this high temperature, the detection temperature Cd (temperaturedetection sensor D) is thought to be constant at around 40 degrees(outside air temperature), for example, as shown in the region R2 inFIG. 10.

However, in actuality, heat from the hand gripping the grip portion 51 agradually absorbs heat inside the body case 31, and the detectiontemperature Cd (temperature detection sensor D) gradually decreases from40.3 degrees to 40 degrees as shown in FIG. 12. Note that FIG. 12 is anenlarged view of the detection temperature Cd in the region R2corresponding to the high temperature in FIG. 10.

As described above, heat from the user's hand gripping the grip portion51 a on the one end side reaches the temperature detection sensor D and,although to a slight degree, influences the detection temperature Cd asshown in FIGS. 10 and 11.

In the present embodiment, the detection temperature from thetemperature detection sensor D on the other end side is corrected usingthe temperature information from the temperature correction sensor C onthe one end side, and the measurement value obtained by the measurementportion 15 shown in FIG. 4 is corrected based on the corrected detectiontemperature.

Firstly, the temperature difference between the detection temperature Cc(temperature correction sensor C) and the detection temperature Cd(temperature detection sensor D) is in a certain relationship with thetemperature change amount in the detection temperature Cd (temperaturedetection sensor D).

For example, with the grip time of 20 minutes at the low temperature, atemperature difference CD1 between the detection temperature Cc and thedetection temperature Cd in the region R1 in FIG. 10 is in a certainrelationship with a temperature change amount Hd1 of the detectiontemperature Cd (FIG. 11).

Similarly, with the grip time of 20 minutes at the high temperature, forexample, a temperature difference CD2 between the detection temperatureCc and the detection temperature Cd in the region R2 in FIG. 10 is in acertain relationship with a temperature change amount Hd2 of thedetection temperature Cd as well (FIG. 12).

These relationships are determined by the configuration of thebiological sample measuring apparatus. The distance from the gripportion 51 a on the one end side gripped by the user to the temperaturecorrection sensor C, the distance from the grip portion 51 a on the oneend side to the temperature detection sensor D, the arrangement of partsin the body case 31 and the like are elements of the configuration ofthe biological sample measuring apparatus.

In view of this, in the present embodiment, before the user carries outmeasurement, the temperature difference CD1 or CD2 in the detectiontemperatures from the temperature correction sensor C and thetemperature detection sensor D when the grip portion 51 a on the one endside is gripped, and the temperature change amount Hd1 or Hd2 of thetemperature detection sensor D that corresponds to the temperaturedifference are actually measured for each grip time N1. These actuallymeasured values are then stored in a grip temperature correction table18 a in the storage portion 13 shown in FIG. 4.

Then, in step S23 in FIG. 8 during measurement, the temperaturecalculation portion 14 obtains the past 10 temperature differencesbetween the detection temperature Cc from the temperature correctionsensor C and the detection temperature Cd from the temperature detectionsensor D (detection temperature Cc−detection temperature Cd), andobtains an average temperature difference for the detection temperatureCc and the detection temperature Cd by averaging these 10 temperaturedifferences.

Regarding the temperature differences (detection temperatureCc−detection temperature Cd) obtained here in the present embodiment, asshown in the region R1 in FIG. 10, for example, when the hand is apseudo heat generator at the low temperature, the detection temperatureCc detected by the temperature correction sensor C is higher than thedetection temperature Cd detected by the temperature detection sensor D,and the average temperature difference (detection temperatureCc−detection temperature Cd) is a positive value.

Accordingly, the temperature calculation portion 14 performs correctionby obtaining the temperature change amount of the temperature detectionsensor D that corresponds to the average temperature difference from thegrip temperature correction table 18 a, and subtracting it from thetemperature Cd from the temperature detection sensor D as shown in FIG.11.

Accordingly, temperature correction is performed as shown by thedetection temperature Cd2 in FIG. 11, and the influence of heat from theuser's hand due to prolonged repeated use can be excluded.

On the other hand, as shown in the region R2 in FIG. 10, for example,when the hand is a pseudo heat absorber at the high temperature, thedetection temperature Cc detected by the temperature correction sensor Cis lower than the detection temperature Cd detected by the temperaturedetection sensor D, and the average temperature difference (detectiontemperature Cc−detection temperature Cd) is a negative value.

Accordingly, the temperature calculation portion 14 performs correctionby obtaining the temperature change amount of the temperature detectionsensor D that corresponds to the average temperature difference from thegrip temperature correction table 18 a, and adding it to the temperatureCd from the temperature detection sensor D as shown in FIG. 12.

Accordingly, temperature correction is performed as shown by thedetection temperature Cd2 shown in FIG. 12, and in this case as well,the influence of heat from the user's hand due to prolonged repeated usecan be excluded.

In other words, in both the case where the hand gripping the gripportion 51 a is a pseudo heat generator and the case where it is apseudo heat absorber, the temperature Cd can be appropriately subjectedto temperature correction, and the influence of heat from the user'shand due to prolonged repeated use can be excluded.

Lastly, the temperature calculation portion 14 stores the temperature Cdthat was corrected as described above as the current temperature in thecurrent temperature area 19 of the storage portion 13 (step S24 in FIG.8).

The control portion 10 then acquires the current temperature from thecurrent temperature area 19 and corrects the measurement value such asthe blood glucose level obtained by the measurement portion 15 using thecurrent temperature (step S6 in FIG. 5) as described above.

As a result, the measurement value can be corrected using temperatureinformation that excludes the influence of heat from the user's hand,thus making it possible to reduce measurement error.

Then, after waiting for 10 seconds (10-second wait) (step S25 in FIG.8), the procedure returns to step S22 in FIG. 8, and the measurement ofthe current temperature is started again.

The processing of steps S22 to S25 in FIG. 8 is repeated until the userswitches off the power switch 12, and therefore the control portion 10can always acquire the most recent current temperature from the currenttemperature area 19 of the storage portion 13.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, a partition 50 is providedbetween an accommodating portion for the temperature correction sensor Cprovided in the grip portion 51 a on the one end side and anaccommodating portion for the temperature detection sensor D on theother end side as shown in FIG. 9. Accordingly, heat exchange betweenthe one end side and the other end side can be disrupted, and it ispossible to reduce the influence that heat from the user's hand that wastransmitted to one side has on the other side.

Note that although the present embodiment is configured such thattemperature measurement is performed by the temperature correctionsensor C and the temperature detection sensor D before the measurementof biological sample information, and the immediately previoustemperature information is utilized, a configuration is possible inwhich temperature measurement is performed by the temperature correctionsensor C and the temperature detection sensor D when biological sampleinformation is measured.

The present embodiment was described taking the example of providing thegrip portion 51 a on only the one end side. In this case, thetemperature change detected by the temperature detection sensor D in theend portion on the side opposite to the grip portion 51 a (i.e., on theother end side) is smaller. In other words, since it is possible tospecify the temperature detection sensor D for which the temperaturechange is smaller, there is no need to compare the temperature changeamounts of the temperature correction sensor C and the temperaturedetection sensor D.

Note that when the grip portion 51 a is provided on the other end siderather than the one end side, the temperature change in the end portionon the one end side is smaller. In this case, when the measurementportion 15 performs measurement, the temperature difference between thefirst detection temperature Cc detected on the other end side and thesecond detection temperature Cd detected on the one end side isobtained, and the temperature information from the end portion on theone end side where the temperature change is smaller (i.e., the seconddetection temperature Cd) is corrected using temperature differenceinformation that corresponds to the temperature difference.

As described above, the present embodiment includes the substantiallyelongated body case 31 that has the biological sample sensor mountingportion 33 on the one end side, the measurement portion 15 connected tothe biological sample sensor mounting portion 33, and the controlportion 10 connected to the measurement portion 15. The grip portion 51a is provided on the one end side (or the other end side) of the bodycase 31, and the temperature detection sensor D is provided inside thebody case 31 on the side opposite to the grip portion 51 a. Furthermore,the temperature correction sensor C is provided inside the body case 31corresponding to the grip portion 51 a.

Specifically, in the present embodiment, when the measurement portion 15performs measurement, the temperature difference between the firstdetection temperature Cd detected with the temperature detection sensorD on the other end side and the second detection temperature Cc detectedwith the temperature correction sensor C on the one end side isobtained. Then, the temperature information from the temperaturedetection sensor D provided in the end portion on the other end sidewhere the temperature change is smaller (first detection temperature Cd)is corrected using temperature difference information that correspondsto the temperature difference. If the measurement value obtained by themeasurement portion 15 is corrected using this corrected temperatureinformation, the measurement value can be corrected using temperatureinformation that was much less influenced by heat from the user's hand,thus making it possible to suppress measurement error.

As described above, the present invention includes a body case that hasa biological sample sensor mounting portion on the one end side, a firsttemperature sensor provided on the one end side inside the body case, ameasurement portion connected to the biological sample sensor mountingportion, and a control portion connected to the measurement portion.Also, in the configuration, a second temperature sensor is provided onthe other end side inside the body case. When biological sampleinformation measurement is performed in the measurement portion, thetemperature change amounts in the two end portions are compared usingthe first and second temperature sensors. Furthermore, in thisconfiguration, the measurement value regarding the biological sampleinformation is corrected in the measurement portion using temperatureinformation from either one of the first or second temperature sensorsthat is provided in the end portion where the temperature change issmaller, thus making it possible to suppress measurement error.

In other words, in the present invention, the first temperature sensoris arranged on the one end side of the body case, and the secondtemperature sensor is arranged on the other end side. Accordingly, whena user gripping the one end side or the other end side of the body caserepeatedly and consecutively carries out measurement multiple timeswhile gripping that portion, heat from the hand is transmitted into theend portion on the gripped side. The detection temperature (temperatureinformation) in that end portion thus changes greatly.

In view of this, in the present invention, the measurement valueobtained by the measurement portion is corrected using temperatureinformation from either one of the first or second temperature sensorsthat is provided in the end portion on the side opposite to the endportion where the temperature change is larger, that is to say, the oneprovided in the end portion where the temperature change is smaller.

As a result, the measurement value can be corrected using temperatureinformation that was much less influenced by heat from the user's hand,thus making it possible to suppress measurement error.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

A biological sample measuring apparatus of the present invention isanticipated to be widely utilized as a biological sample measuringapparatus for measuring biological sample information such as a bloodglucose level or a lactic acid level from a biological sample.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A biological sample measuring apparatuscomprising: a body case including a biological sample sensor mountingportion, a first end side, and a second end side opposed to the firstend side; the biological sample sensor mounting portion disposed on thefirst end side; a first temperature sensor provided on the first endside in the body case, and configured to measure a first temperature onthe first end side; a second temperature sensor provided on the secondend side in the body case, and configured to measure a secondtemperature on the second end side; a temperature calculation portionconnected to the first temperature sensor and the second temperaturesensor wherein the temperature calculation portion obtains a firsttemperature change, which is a change of the first temperature on thefirst end side, and a second temperature change, which is a change ofthe second temperature on the second end side; a measurement portionconnected to the biological sample sensor mounting portion, themeasurement portion configured to perform biological sample informationmeasurement and produce a biological sample information measurementvalue; and a control portion connected to the measurement portion andthe temperature calculation portion, wherein the temperature calculationportion compares a first temperature change with a second temperaturechange and the control portion corrects the biological sampleinformation measurement value based on the first temperature if thefirst temperature change is smaller than the second temperature changeor on the second temperature if the second temperature change is smallerthan the first temperature change in order to suppress measurement errorresulting from heat transfer to or from a user and produce a correctedbiological sample information measurement value.
 2. The biologicalsample measuring apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: astorage portion connected to the temperature calculation portion, thestorage portion configured to store the first temperature if the firsttemperature change is smaller than the second temperature change orstore the second temperature if the second temperature change is smallerthan the first temperature change.
 3. The biological sample measuringapparatus according to claim 1, wherein: the body case further includesa first accommodating portion, a second accommodating portion, and apartition; the partition separates the first accommodating portion fromthe second accommodating portion; the first temperature sensor isdisposed inside of the first accommodating portion; and the secondtemperature sensor is disposed inside of the second accommodatingportion.
 4. The biological sample measuring apparatus according to claim1, wherein: the body case further includes: an upper surface side, anunderside, a first protruding portion corresponding to the firsttemperature sensor, the first protruding portion protruding from theunderside and away from the upper surface side, and a second protrudingportion corresponding to the second temperature sensor, the secondprotruding portion protruding from the underside and away from the uppersurface side; and a display portion is provided on the upper surfaceside of the body case.
 5. The biological sample measuring apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein: the first temperature and the secondtemperature are measured before biological sample informationmeasurement.
 6. The biological sample measuring apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein: the first temperature and the second temperature aremeasured when measurement of the biological sample information isperformed.
 7. The biological sample measuring apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein: when measurement of the biological sample informationis performed: the first temperature sensor detects the firsttemperature; the second temperature sensor detects the secondtemperature; and the temperature calculation portion: obtains atemperature difference between the first temperature and the secondtemperature, and corrects the first temperature based on a temperaturedifference information corresponding to the temperature difference ifthe first temperature change is smaller than the second temperaturechange, or corrects the second temperature based on a temperaturedifference information corresponding to the temperature difference ifthe second temperature change is smaller than the first temperaturechange.
 8. The biological sample measuring apparatus according to claim7, further comprising: a storage portion connected to the temperaturecalculation portion, and the storage portion including a correctionamount, the correction amount recorded in the storage portion andcorresponding with the difference between the first temperature.
 9. Thebiological sample measuring apparatus according to claim 7, wherein: thebody case further includes a first accommodating portion, a secondaccommodating portion, and a partition; the partition separating thefirst accommodating portion from the second accommodating portion. 10.The biological sample measuring apparatus according to claim 7, wherein:the body case further includes: an upper surface side, an underside, afirst protruding portion corresponding to the first temperature sensor,the first protruding portion protruding from the underside and away fromthe upper surface side, and a second protruding portion corresponding tothe second temperature sensor, the second protruding portion protrudingfrom the underside and away from the upper surface side; and a displayportion is provided on the upper surface side of the body case.
 11. Thebiological sample measuring apparatus according to claim 7, wherein: thefirst temperature and the second temperature are measured beforebiological sample information measurement.
 12. The biological samplemeasuring apparatus according to claim 7, wherein: the first temperatureand the second temperature are measured when measurement of thebiological sample information is performed.
 13. A biological samplemeasuring method comprising: measuring a first temperature via a firsttemperature sensor provided on a first end side in the body case;measuring a second temperature via a second temperature sensor providedon a second end side opposed to the first end side in the body case;measuring a biological sample to produce a biological sample measurementvalue; obtaining a first temperature change which is a change of thefirst temperature on the first end side; obtaining a second temperaturechange which is a change of the second temperature on the second endside; comparing the first temperature change with the second temperaturechange; correcting the biological sample measurement value based on thefirst temperature if the first temperature change is smaller than thesecond temperature change or on the second temperature if the secondtemperature change is smaller than the first temperature change; andproducing a corrected biological sample information measurement valuehaving a suppressed measurement error resulting from heat transfer to orfrom a user.
 14. The biological sample measuring method according toclaim 13, further comprising: storing the first temperature if the firsttemperature change is smaller than the second temperature change orstoring the second temperature if the second temperature change issmaller than the first temperature change.
 15. The biological samplemeasuring method according to claim 13, wherein: the first temperatureand the second temperature are measured before measurement of thebiological sample.